Obese Mare

youngcole · 05-10-2004, 04:03 PM

I have a mare in her 10th month. Kept her very active until recently. I was lunging her three days a week (walk/trot) sometimes in side reins and she was looking great. She is a big warmblood girl 16.2 and a very easy keeper. We pulled all of her shoes three weeks ago and she was VERY ouchy. I was turning her out in the pasture all day (BIG mistake) and now because of her formally ouchy feet and that yummy hay, I have a very fat mare. She couldn't handle being barefoot so we had to put her front shoes back on two days ago. My vet suggested that I start lunging her again (walk/trot). Freaks me out as I am feeding her less then nothing per the vet's instructions: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1/2 flake alfalfa, no grass, a scoop of alfa/molasses and 1/2 scoop Omelene 200. That is it for the whole day. My mare is looking at me like I am starving her. I need strength folks...she is "willing" me to throw her more food! You know the "look"! Anyone else ever had a mare blow up on them in the 11th hour?

Blistering Winds · 05-10-2004, 04:20 PM

If you are under Vet instructions, then don't change it up. Maybe split the feeding up to 2-3 times. Even the small amount will help her out.

PawNHoofPrints · 05-10-2004, 06:41 PM

I had to do the same with one of my cats, and boy is it tough to ignore them when they are begging for food. It has taken about 24 months for her to go from almost a 13 pound cat to an 8. (No one bothered to tell me that steriods would increase their appetite and not to free choice her while she on them for 2 months!!! Gained it MUCH faster than she lost it.) I would definitely keep up with the diet. Obesity can lead to all kinds of problems including founder in horses. If you go to www.purinamills.com, click on equine, and then click on either body condition score and/or feeding calculator, it explains what they should look like weight wise and how to calculate how many calories they need and how many pounds of purina feed are needed to achieve it.

Lou3 · 05-10-2004, 06:52 PM

just think of it this way - if she's too fat she might have trouble foaling and you might lose her. That should stiffen your resolve somewhat. You're doing the right thing, just keep doing it. applaud
Lou

horse_crazy · 05-11-2004, 03:39 PM

Hmm, well as long as you are feeding her, as your vet insturctued, Im not sure what else you cna do or should do. We have one mare that is as big as a house, ont he right amount of feed, on daily de-wormer, is in a turnout with little grass, and is stalled at night. She is HUGE, she is due within the next 2 weeks,a nd hopefully she just has a big baby and not twins. She is a big, stocky QH mare, around 15.2 hands and is bred toa 14.2-14.3 grullo stallion. What a baby this will be!
Anyways(after my talk about my mare), good luck with yours!

youngcole · 05-11-2004, 05:09 PM

You know what is very funny. I spoke with Purina today and asked for their opinion. I told them she was obese. They recommended that I feed her Omolene 200 during the last 90 days of gestation at 0.5% of the mare's body weight (7 lbs!), & 1% (14lbs!!!) of her body weight during lactation. She also needs 1% of her body weight in hay each day (14lbs). I can't even imagine how large she we would be.

PawNHoofPrints · 05-13-2004, 05:58 PM

I'm not suprised. It is not ideal for them to lose a lot of weight during pregnancy. But it is also not good for them to be obese during pregnancy as the fat will fill the pelvic (birth) canal and can make delivery more difficult or result in a dystocia.

During lactation, her energy requirement will be EXTREMELY high. It is the most metabolically demanding time period besides growth in young animals. If she does not receive enough food during this time period, she will not be able to produce adequate quantities of milk for her foal.

Lou3 · 05-15-2004, 07:56 AM

Yes feeding enough in lactation is important, its better that they dont lose weight during lactation or it might affect how much milk they produce.
Lou

05-10-2004, 04:03 PM	#1
youngcole Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 10	Obese Mare I have a mare in her 10th month. Kept her very active until recently. I was lunging her three days a week (walk/trot) sometimes in side reins and she was looking great. She is a big warmblood girl 16.2 and a very easy keeper. We pulled all of her shoes three weeks ago and she was VERY ouchy. I was turning her out in the pasture all day (BIG mistake) and now because of her formally ouchy feet and that yummy hay, I have a very fat mare. She couldn't handle being barefoot so we had to put her front shoes back on two days ago. My vet suggested that I start lunging her again (walk/trot). Freaks me out as I am feeding her less then nothing per the vet's instructions: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1/2 flake alfalfa, no grass, a scoop of alfa/molasses and 1/2 scoop Omelene 200. That is it for the whole day. My mare is looking at me like I am starving her. I need strength folks...she is "willing" me to throw her more food! You know the "look"! Anyone else ever had a mare blow up on them in the 11th hour?

05-10-2004, 04:20 PM	#2
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,850 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 16	If you are under Vet instructions, then don't change it up. Maybe split the feeding up to 2-3 times. Even the small amount will help her out. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

05-10-2004, 06:52 PM	#4
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,297 Images: 30 Blog Entries: 1	just think of it this way - if she's too fat she might have trouble foaling and you might lose her. That should stiffen your resolve somewhat. You're doing the right thing, just keep doing it. applaud Lou __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

05-15-2004, 07:56 AM	#8
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,297 Images: 30 Blog Entries: 1	Yes feeding enough in lactation is important, its better that they dont lose weight during lactation or it might affect how much milk they produce. Lou __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

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05-10-2004, 06:41 PM	#3
PawNHoofPrints Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Posts: 762	I had to do the same with one of my cats, and boy is it tough to ignore them when they are begging for food. It has taken about 24 months for her to go from almost a 13 pound cat to an 8. (No one bothered to tell me that steriods would increase their appetite and not to free choice her while she on them for 2 months!!! Gained it MUCH faster than she lost it.) I would definitely keep up with the diet. Obesity can lead to all kinds of problems including founder in horses. If you go to www.purinamills.com, click on equine, and then click on either body condition score and/or feeding calculator, it explains what they should look like weight wise and how to calculate how many calories they need and how many pounds of purina feed are needed to achieve it.

05-11-2004, 03:39 PM	#5
horse_crazy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,067	Hmm, well as long as you are feeding her, as your vet insturctued, Im not sure what else you cna do or should do. We have one mare that is as big as a house, ont he right amount of feed, on daily de-wormer, is in a turnout with little grass, and is stalled at night. She is HUGE, she is due within the next 2 weeks,a nd hopefully she just has a big baby and not twins. She is a big, stocky QH mare, around 15.2 hands and is bred toa 14.2-14.3 grullo stallion. What a baby this will be! Anyways(after my talk about my mare), good luck with yours!

05-11-2004, 05:09 PM	#6
youngcole Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 10	You know what is very funny. I spoke with Purina today and asked for their opinion. I told them she was obese. They recommended that I feed her Omolene 200 during the last 90 days of gestation at 0.5% of the mare's body weight (7 lbs!), & 1% (14lbs!!!) of her body weight during lactation. She also needs 1% of her body weight in hay each day (14lbs). I can't even imagine how large she we would be.

05-13-2004, 05:58 PM	#7
PawNHoofPrints Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Posts: 762	I'm not suprised. It is not ideal for them to lose a lot of weight during pregnancy. But it is also not good for them to be obese during pregnancy as the fat will fill the pelvic (birth) canal and can make delivery more difficult or result in a dystocia. During lactation, her energy requirement will be EXTREMELY high. It is the most metabolically demanding time period besides growth in young animals. If she does not receive enough food during this time period, she will not be able to produce adequate quantities of milk for her foal.